Check-writing machine



A. M. WARD.

CHECK WRITING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. [4, 1920.

1,386,479. Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

I BY

Q. K W

ATTORN Y A. M. WARD.

CHECK WRITING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED Aue.14, 1920. 1,386,479. PatentdAug. 2, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

- INVENTOR Al ber'f M. Wara' ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR AIber'T M. Wafla ATTORNEY PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT M. WARD, OF ROOHESTER,;NEW YORK.

CHECK-WRITING MACHINE.

a new and improved form of check writing machine.

Another object of this invention is to shred or perforate the portion of the' paper 011 which the printing is done in a new and improved manner.

' These and other objects of this invention will be fully illustratedin the drawings, described in the specification and pointed out in the claimsat' the end thereof.

"In the accompanying drawings: I

Figure 1 is a sideelevation of the check writing machine showing the right hand side thereof. I I p Fig; 2 is an elevation of the left hand side of the machine, showing a part of the casing ofthe machine broken away.

Fig. 3 is avertical section of the machine, the section being taken on the line 0fFig.l-.- f

.Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the type wheel.

Fig. 4 is afront elevation of the machine with a portlon of the casmg'thereof bl'OKGIl away.

-Fig. 5 is'a detail sectional View of the,

shredding or perforating mechanism, the section being taken on the line'5- *5 of Fig. 6. g

Fig. 6 is adetail sectional view of the shredding or 7' perforating mechanism, the section being taken on the line S -6 of Fig. 5.

Fig.7 is a detail View of the inking roller. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective View of the shredding wheel with aportion of a check shredded thereby;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section of the shredded portion of a check. 7 Fig. 10 isa detail top plan view of the index guide for properly locating the check shredding with relation to the printing and means in the machine.

V Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional viewof the machine, showing a modified form of spacing mechanism.

Specification of Letters Patent.

the type wheel's Patented Au". 2, 1921.

Application filed August 14, 1920. Serial No. 403,588.

F 1g. 12 is an end elevation of the "type wheel and spacing arm used in the machiile illustrated in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a detail view of a modified form of release for the paper feed and shredding mechanism.

' Fig. 14 is a detail perspective view of the parts comprising the driving mechanism for the spacing, feeding and shredding mechamsm. a

In the-several figures of the drawings. like reference numerals indicate like parts. I

My improvedche'ck writer is contained in a housing 1 made preferably of cast iron, which housing comprises a base 2 and a hood Thebase extends forward of the hood and the forwardly extending portion is open at both the'top andthe bottom and is separated. from the hood at the front by a'slot 4 which serves to receive the check for the printing or writing operation. The opening plate 5 is adapted to project below the shoulders 100 and 101 by which it is held in place in the housing at the rear thereof. The rent 0: 1: the plate is fastened to the housing by two screws which pass tlmmgh the top of the plate near each of the outer corners thereof, as indicated at 103 in l i is.

Tn the right and left hand side walls of the upper portion of the housing are provided suitable hearings in which the shaft 6 is mounted to rotate. This shaft carries the type wheel 7, which is suitably fastened thereto on the inside of the casing. On the outer-end of theshaft 6 is fastened a knurled handle 8 by means of which the shaft and 7 'e adapted to be turned. The shaft 6 is provided on the end near the knurled wheel 8 with the annular recess 9, which recess is engaged by the head of the screw 10, which screw is threaded into the housing. By turning this screw in or out.

' the shaft" 6 is adjusted longitudinally and is at all times held in position thereby. This screw acts asan adjustable stop for the spacing arm 12 on it reverse movement and stops it in position to'just clear the'type wheel. It positions the type wheel 7 inde pendently of the housing 1 but with relation to the spacing a1'm 12; a 1

The type Wheel is provided with a series of lines of type 11 thereon, each line of which is capable of printing a word, which Words are of variable length. On the inside of the type wheel are cast a series of grooves, one for each line of type, which grooves are of variable length, the length of each groove being supplemental to the length of the line of type with which it cooperates. It Wlll also be understood that the groove is not necessarily placed near the line of type wlth which it cooperates, but may be placed any distance therefrom and in the machine herein described, the groove is located 180 from the line of type with which it cooperates, the line by which the printing'is done being located at the bottom and the locking groove being located at the'top of the wheel when the wheel is locked in printing position. It

.will also be understood that these grooves are-intended strictly to lock the .wheel in printing position and also govern the amount of feed of paper. -lnsteadof locating these grooves on the inside of the type wheel, they may'beplaced on the outside thereof between the typell, but on the opposite side of the typewheel. This modification of the type wheel and associated partsthereof is shown in Figs. 11 and 12.

-The type wheel is locked in its various printing positions in the following manner:

*Mounted to slide on the shaft 6is the spacing arm 12. This arms'has a horizontal finger 13 formed at the upper end thereof and is providedwith a horizontal rack 14.

. at the lower end thereof. It is also pro vided with a hub 15, formed on the arm 12 intermediate of the finger 13 and therack 14. Through the hub15 passes the shaft 6 and the hub -permits sliding engagement along the shaft. The rack 1 f is engaged by the pinion 16 for the purpose of moving the spacing arm-and finger into and out of engagement with the type wheel. To hold the vspacing finger in upright position and prevent it from tilting on the shaft 6, I provide a track-17 on the spacing arm, which slides on the hub of the feed roller 24 as the rack moves the spacing arm back and forth.

To justify the position offthe printing wheel I provide an the left hand'of it, as

shown in Fig. 4c, a series of annulardetents.

18 such as are shownjin Fig. 2. Engaging with these recesses is provided the pawl 19,

mounted to 1 swing onthe. shoulder screw 20, provided in the housing. A spring 21 is 7 provided which holds the pawl firmly in engagement with the recesses and serves to center the, type wheel in correct position sov that-the finger 13 will make proper engagement' with thefrecess in the type wheeh The type wheel is positioned in place by turning the knurled wheel 8. A sight opening 21 -is provided inthe casing through which may be observed the; series of char-.

exposed under the opening 214, the corre sponding' line will: be in printing position on the bottom of the wheel- Transverse to the shaft 6 is mounted the arbor 22, which arbor is fastened against Y rotation by the set screw 23. On this arbor'is mounted to rotate the feed roller 24:, the shredding wheel 25, the pinion 16 and the clutch 26, through which the pinion-16 drives the shredding wheel 25. The shredding wheel 25 drives the feed roller; 24 through the pin 27. .Onthe end of the pinion 16v is provided a groove28 :in which engages the tongue 29 on the end of the'clutch 26, byj which the clutch 26 is positively driven from the pinion. On the-hubof the clutch the shreddingwheel is mounted to-rotate. The clutch is provided with three eccentrics, 30, 31 and 32, which rotate inside of the shredding wheel. Rollers33 are provided between the eccentrics. and the shredding wheel and when the eccentrics are turned counter-clockwise as in Fig. 6 these rollers, connect the clutch and the shredding wheel and cause the driving of the shredding wheel. Theserollers are held in an advancedpositionby springs... H

A similarclutch 341- with he partslposi- 'tioned in the'same relation, is located at the right hand end of the'fe'ed-roller in Fig.3, fora purpose that will presentlybe described. The clutch3 1 islprovided with a hub that extends to the rightthrough the housing. On this hub asleeve 34: -lS provided which sleeve holdsthe rollers of the clutch in placeand supports the end of the, I

arbor and provides a ready means for as- 5 is removed to permit theremoval of the arbor.

Mounted at the left hand end of the" arbor 22 as shown in Fig. 3, is a bevel pinion 35, which pinion is free to turn on the arbor.

The hub of thislpinionfis connectodto the hub of the pinion 16 by means of a helical spring 36, which yieldingly transmitsthe movement of the pinionl35 to the pinion 16 inlone direction. A sleeve 37 is provided which positively engages the hub of the-pin 1 ion 35, the hub beingprovided with lugs 33 and the sleeve being provided with slots39 for thispurposc. This sleeve is cut away a the opposite end as indicated L0 to a shoulder which engages with the the hub of the pinion 16, by which the pinion is driven in the reverse direction, the spring '36 driving the pinion 16 in the forward direction. The spring 36 is given an initial tension of about one turn and this norinally'holds the shoulder 40 against the lug 41. I V

'Mounted in the housing, parallel to the shaft 6. is the shaft 42, which shaft is journaled in the housing at both ends. This shaft is provided with the groove 93 in which engages the screw 94 by which the shaft is held from endwise movement. The screw 94 is threaded into a lug provided in the housing therefor.

"On the right hand end of the shaft42 is provided a lever 43 and a handle 44 by which fthe'shaft may be turned. On the shaft 42 is keyed a bevelpinion 45, which drives'the bevel pinion 35, which in turn drives the pinion 16 to move the pointer 13. Also keyed on the'shaft 42 is the cam 46, which engages with a roller 47 carried on the lever'48, which lever is mounted on the pin 49. On the right hand end of this lever as shown in Fig.3 is carried the platen 50, which is raised into engagement with the type wheel and presses the paper against it.

' The'lever48 is normally pressed down at the right'hand end by the spring 48.- A

lug 46 is'cast on the casing to limit the movement of the cam in one direction.

' Theshredding -wheel' is shown in' large; scale in Fig.5 andconsists of a single piece o'f'metal in. which three annularigrooves 51 are'formed therein separating four rings of teeth 52, which teeth are pr sm shape as shown in Figs. 6 and 8. Cooperating with .the'shreddin g wheel is a stripper plate 53 4 0 which h'as four slots therein in which the teeth of the shredding wheel engage or project below it. I Mounted inan opening in the plate 5 is a shredding block 54, which block has four shallow grooves therein that are engaged by the teeth '52. This block is adjustable up and down atone end by the set sc 'ew 55 bearing in the yoke" 56. 'This block 54 is hingedat the other end at 57' to the plate 5. 'As a substitute for this adjustment, I provide a shaft'63 mounted in the housing and V a lug. A torsion spring 64 is provided on one end thereof. Onthe other end is provided a cam 65 which engages under the shredding'bloc'k 54 and'lifts itinto engage inent with the shredding wheel. A screw 66 is provided to move the cam in the opposite direction'and loweithe block and between theis pring and the screw, the'position of the blockiis fined. On the shaft :63 is also car-' ried thejarm67 that'carries the lower feed rollers A'h ub 68 is provided for the arm that earriesfthe rollers'and a hub 69 is provided for thehub that carries the cam '65 65. The hub 69 i's' pijnne'd to the shaft while the hub 68 is free to turn thereon. The hub 68 is connected to the hub 69 by the torsion spring 70 by which the rollers are yieldingly held in place. The hub 68 is slotted and a pin 71 is provided in the shaft 63 which engages with the arm 67 and moves thearm and lower feed roller down. By turning down the handle on the end of the shaft 63, the rollers will be drawn away from the feed roll, permitting the easy insert'ionof the check to any position. I

Mounted under the plate 5 are provided the lowerfe'edrollers 60, which rollers extend through'slots in the plate 5 and cooperate with the roller 24 to feed the check. These rollers are supported by a'spring plate 61, which is fastened on the under side of the plate 5 by a screw 62,.

In Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 7 I have illustrated the inking roller and the mount therefor. This inking roller comprises a roller 7 5 mounted on a pin 76, carried in a yoke 7'7. The ends of the yoke are slotted as indicated at 78, permitting the roller to move sidewise therein, toward and away from the type wheel so as to maintain a uniform or evcn bearing thereon. The top of the yoke is perforated to receive the two arms of the spring 79, which arms bear against the pin 76 and hold the rolleryieldingly against the type wheel. The recess in the handle 84 is adapted to receive and hold from cndwise move ment the inneror left hand end of the pin 76. This holds this pin in place in the yoke 77. lVhen it is desired to remove the ink roller from the yoke, the. plate 81 the handle 84 is removed from the yoke so that the pin 76 can be'moved endwise therein sufiiciently to allow the right hand end of the pin to disengage itself from the right hand. bearing inthe yoke 77 as viewed in Fig. 7,

} The end S0 of the yoke is circular in form and is fastened to the disk 81 by means of the screws 82 and 83. A handle 84 is riveted carrying 81 having the shape of a washer undercut on the inside so that the hub of the handle can be expanded into it. The handle is recessed to receive the end o't'thepin 76. The disk 81 is provided with the recess A screw 86 is provided, the head of which over laps the disk 81 and holds it in position. The disk 81 canbe rotated by the handle 84 until the recess 85 registers with the head of the screw 86, after which the disk is released and the roller and parts associated therewith may be removed as a unit. The washer, 81 is embossed at'87 and 87 which embossing will engage with the head of the the screw86 andprevent the rotation of the disk and parts associated therewith in one lie.

the type wheel.

last part shred it on the on which is pivotally mounted the index or guide 91, which normally stands parallel to the shaft 6 and above the check for the pur- "pose of guiding the placing of the check in the machine. The printed hnes on the check lever rocksthe shaft 42 and turns thebevelear 35 and the gear 16 through the sprlng 6,-causing the rack 14, to be driven forward, carrying with it the finger 13into locking engagement w1th the printing wheel.

"When this finger meets the end of its move-..

spring yields to permit the handle ment, the

to the end of its movement. The

4.3 to go causes the raising ofthe platen which does the printing.

away from the printing take. place in the nextv and shredpaper can be properly positioned a The shape ded before the printing begins. of the cam 46 platen sufficiently. to secure the type wheel and the type wheel has been released to unlock for rotation to a new posi tion'for the printing of another lIHPIGSSlOIl after which the printing operation maybe repeated as above described. By reason of the'clutch 26 the shredding wheel andrthe outside thereof, said lines being arranged. parallel to the axis thereof, aseries of par-'.. allel grooves on the outside of the &yl1nder,

' each of said grooves having a length com feed roller operate only .on the reverse movement of the lever and "are prevented from moving. in the other directionon the forward movement of the lever by reason of the clutch vI claim: a 7

- 1. In a check writing. machine, a typecylinder having a series of lines of type on the plementary to the length of one of the lines oftype, a series of characters corresponding with the lines of type, and a-series of dents corresponding the lines ofv type.

the checlrupon the" of the movement of the handle 43 On the reverse movement.- of the handle 43, after the platen has moved. wheel, the clutch26, driven-by the sleeve 37, acts to. drive the "shredding wheel and the feed roller 2 1,-

which act together to feed thepaper and line where the printing will printing operation. .The; lever can be .moved', partially forward and back sufficiently to feed and shred the paper without moving the platen so thatthe delays the lifting of the this result;- When the lever 4L3) has reached its starting point, thefinger 13 has been withdrawn from 2'. Ina check writing machine, a type cylinder having a. series of lines of type on the outside thereof, said lines being arranged parallelto theaxis thereof, a series of parallel grooves onthe inside of the cylinder, each of said grooves having a length complementary to the length of one of the lines of type, a series of characters corresponding with the lines of type, a series of positioning detents corresponding with the lines of type, a spacing arm having a finger thereon adapt ed to engage with said grooves. v V

3. Ina checkwriting machine a type cyl-. inder having a series of lines of type on the outside thereof, said lines being arranged parallel to theaxis thereof, a seriesof parallel grooves onthe inside of the cylinder, each of said grooves having a'length complementary to the length of one of the lines of type, a series .of characters corresponding with the lines oftype, a series of positioning detents corresponding with the .linesof type, a spacing arm having a finger thereon adapted to engage with said grooves, said spacing arm having a rack thereon, a pinion engaging w th said rack for driving'said arm, means for driving said. pinion and rack variable distances. 7 7

4. In acheckwriting machine a stationary arbor, two pinions mountedto rotate thereon,

which one drives the other, said driven pin-v ionroperating to move a spacing ,finger-byengagement with a rackthereon. If? 5.- In.a check writing machine,.a station-' ary arbor, two 1 pinions mounted to rotate thereon, a helical: spring connecting said pinions by which one drives the other, a sleeve fastened to one ofsaid pinions and having a loose engagement with the other pinion, said sleeve'driving the second pinion.

ion operatingto move a spacing finger by engagement with a rack thereon.'

6. In acheck writing maohine,- a station ary arbor, apinion mounted to turn thereon, apolutch -member-,mounted to turn on the arbor, means for driving said clutch member from said pinion, a shredding wheel mount: ed .to turn on the clutch member, rollers interposed between the clutch member and the a helical. springconnecting said pinions by 1 supplemental to-the spring, said drivenpinf V shreddingv wheel by which .the' shredding wheel is driven from-the clutch member. j

- 7 In a check writing machine, a stationary arbor, a pinlon mounted to turn thereon,

a clutch member mounted to turn on the" arbor, means for driving said clutch member from said pinion, a shredding Wheel mountedto turnon the clutchmember. rollers interposed between'the clutchmember and the shredding wheel at .onef endf shredding wheel by which the shredding 8; In a check writing machine, a stationary arbor, a pinion mounted to turn thereon, a clutch member mounted to turn on the arbor, means for driving said clutch member from said pinion, a shredding wheel mounted to turn on the clutch member, rollers interposed between the clutch member and'the shredding wheel by which the shredding wheel is driven fromthe clutch member, a feed roller mounted to turn on said arbor,

means for driving said roller from the shredding wheel at one end, a clutch at the other end of the feed roller adapted to prevent the backward rotation of the feed roller.

9. In a check writing machine, the combination of an arbor, a pinion, a helical spring and sleeve, a pinion, a clutch, a shredding wheel, a feed roller and a clutch. mounted thereon in the order named, said parts being assembled outside of the machine, bearings in the machine for each end of the arbor in which the arbor can be mounted with the parts in place thereon.

10. In a check writing machine, a shredding wheel having a series of rings of prism shaped teeth thereon, each of said teeth being capable of cutting an I-shaped slit in the paper. I

' 11. In a check writing machine, a'shredding wheel having a series of rings of prism shaped teeth thereon, each of said teeth being capable of cutting an-I-shaped slit in'the paper, ashredding block having a series of grooves therein, one for each ring of teeth on the wheel, said teeth making a close fit with the groove with which it engages.

12. Ina check writing machine, the combination ofa shredding wheel having a series ofrings of rism shaped teeth thereon, each of said t'eet h being capable ofcutting an I shaped slit in the paper, a shredding block having a seriesof grooves therein, one for each ring of teeth on the wheetmakin'g a close. fit, between the teeth and the groove so as'toshear'and cut the paper, said block having means of adjustment up or down.

13. In a check writing machine, the com bination of a casing, a shaft mounted therein, a type wheel rigidly fastened to said shaft, a spacing arm mounted to slide on the shaft, said shaft extending outside of the casing and having an annular circumferential groove therein, a screw in said casing having a large head adapted to engage in said groove and fiX the positionof the shaft in the casing.

14. In a check writing machine, the combination of a casing, a shaft mounted therein, a type wheel rigidly fastened to said shaft, a spacing arm mounted to slide on the shaft, said shaft extending outside of the casing and having an annular circumferential groove therein, a screw in said casing having a large head adapted to engage in said groove and fix the position of the shaft in the casing, the inner end of said screw engaging with said spacing arm and limiting its movement in one direction.

15. In a check writing machine, the coin bination of a easinghaving a base in front and at the sides and shoulders at the rear, a table adapted to rest on said base at the front and sides and engage under said shoulders at the rear.

16. In a check writer the combination of a casing, a crank shaft mounted to rock therein, a cam on and rigidly fastened to said shaft, a lever mounted to rock in said casing, a roller on one end thereof with which said cam engages to depress that end of the lever and raise the other end of the lever, a platen on the other end of the lever, said platen and lever being made in one piece. I 17. In a checkwriter, the combination of a casing, an ink roller mounted therein, a yoke supporting said roller, said yoke having one end circular, a washer to which said end is fastened, a handle fastened in said washer.

18. In a check writer, the combination of a casing, an ink roller mounted therein, a yoke supporting said roller, said yoke hay ing one end circular, a washer to which said end is fastened, a handle fastened in said washer, a-eircular opening in the easing into which the roller can be introduced, said washer bearing against the outside of the casing and said circular end fitting in the 'circular'opening of the casing.

19. In a check writer, the combination of a casing, an ink roller mounted therein, a yoke supporting said roller, said yoke having one end circular, a washer to which said end is fastened, a handle fastened in said washer, a circular'opening in the easing into which the roller can be introduced, said washer bearing against the outside of the casing and said circular end fitting in the circular opening of the casing, a screw having a large head overlapping s'aid washer to hold it in place in the casing, a recess in said washer which permits the washer to pass the head of said screw, permitting the removal of the roller from the machine.

20. In a check writer, the combination of a casing, an ink roller mounted therein, a yoke supporting said roller, said yoke having one end circular, a washer to which said end is fastened, a handle fastened in said washer, a circular opening in the easing into which the roller can be introduced, 7 said washer bearing against the outside of the casing and said circular end fitting in the circular opening of the casing, a screw having a large head overlapping said washer to hold it in place in the casing, a recess in said washer which permits the washer to pass the head of said screw permitting the removal of the roller from the machine, said a shredding block, means for moving the lower feed roll and shredding block away yoke, washer and handle being-turned to bring the recesslnto register with the screw when the roller is introduced into or wlthdrawn from the casing, an'embossing on the washer to prevent it from being turned 1n the wrong dlrection. I

21. In a check writer, the combination of 'a casing, an ink roller mounted therein, a

washer, a roller and shaft supportedin said yoke, the inner end of said handle being hollow to receive and hold in place the long end of said shaft, the opposite end of said shaft having a short engagement with the yoke, permitting the said end to be disengaged from handle.

23; In a check writer, an upper feed roll and a shredding wheel, a lower feed roll and the yoke on the removal of the from the upper feed roll and shredding wheel to permit the introduction of a check.

24:. In a check writer, an upper feed roll and a shredding wheel, a lower-feed roll and a shredding block, means .for moving the "lower feed roll and shredding-block away from the upper feed roll and shredding wheel to permit the'introduction of a check, means for returning the lower feed roll and shredding block to operative position.

25. In a check writer, an upper feed roll and a shredding wheel, a lower feed roll and a shredding block,'a rock shaft for moving the lower feed roll and shredding. block check. v V 26. In a check writer, an upper feed roll and a shredding wheel, a lower-feed roll and a shredding block, a rock shaft forymoving V the lower feed roll and shredding block away-from the upper feed roll and shredding wheel to permit the introduction of a check, a spring on said rock shaftto turn it and return the lower feed roll and shredding block to operative position.

27. In a check writer, an upper feed vroll and a shredding wheel, a lower feed roll and a shredding block, a rock shaft for moving the lower feed roll and shredding block away fromthe upper feed roll and shredding wheel to permit theintroduction of a check, a spring on said rock shaft to turn it .and return the lower feed roll and shredding block to operative position, ,an adjust- 1 able stop on the casing adapted to limit the return movement of said parts andfiX-the position v thereof. 28. Ina check a sight gage pivotally mounted on the easing above the table and normally extending outwardly; and adapted to be folded up against the casing. I a 1 1 I 29. In a check writer the combination of a casing, a crank shaft mounted to rock therein, a cam on and rigidly fastened to said shaft, a lever mounted to rock insaid casing, said lever being engaged and moved by the-cam when the crank shaft is moved in one direction and permittingisaid lever writer a casing and a table,

to return tonormal positionwhen said cam is moved in the opposite direction,;. and a stop lug ontheeasing to engage thetam and limit its movement 'in said opposite di- ALBERT M, WARDQ 

